Novak Djokovic’s call to close the retractable roof during his first-round match at Roland-Garros against Mackenzie McDonald, due to strong winds, has ignited debate. Djokovic won the match 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 but paused the game when gusty conditions raised concerns about the court’s state at 3-2 in the first set.
He approached the chair umpire and tournament supervisor, expressing that wind was lifting clay from the surface and jeopardising play. Commentator Nick Mullins remarked on the rarity of such a scenario occurring on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Despite Djokovic’s request, the officials did not close the roof initially, and play continued, though conditions remained challenging. It wasn’t until McDonald expressed similar concerns later in the match that the roof was finally closed.
Former Australian doubles number one, Rennae Stubbs, criticized Djokovic’s actions as unfair, pointing out that players on outside courts were still competing under similar conditions. Stubbs voiced that expecting preferential treatment on the covered court was unreasonable.
The roof, which was implemented in 2020, had been left open at the match’s start. After the match, Djokovic clarified that there were no ill intentions behind his comments, simply inquiring about the weather’s implications on the match. He stated, “I asked how long we could play in the rain.” His request for immediate closure stemmed from the noticed deterioration of the court due to rain.
Djokovic explained he was confused about why officials chose to keep the roof open when conditions differed significantly from areas outside the covered court. He noted that both he and McDonald were struggling with the wind and questioned the rationale for not closing the roof sooner.
Despite the weather interruptions, Djokovic showcased his skill, recording 32 winners and only 20 unforced errors throughout the match. The 38-year-old, who recently claimed his 100th title, reflected on his time in Paris, recalling his Olympic experience, saying, “The emotion is very strong.” He humorously added that his Olympic medal was with his father as he preferred trophies over medals.
The incident underlined the complexities of weather management in tennis, raising questions about fairness and the prioritisation of players on different courts.